need help with an old mercury outboard

[johnmcntsh]

Hi folks. Need a little help. I have a 79 mercury 9.8 (110) that has been sitting for a long time . I only use it as a spare. Needed to use it and tuned it up, brought it out runs great BUT the damn thing will not turn. It takes an incredible amount of effort to turn it.
I have loosened up the friction screw and have worked it back and forth, put new grease in and even took a hair dryer to the outside of the steering screw to loosen up the old grease, all to no avail.

Any suggestions? The motor runs great and is tight so i do not want to trash it.

Thanks!!

[SkiprJohn]

Have you used PB Blaster or some other penetrating oil on that part? It needs to be worked a lot.

[johnmcntsh]

Originally Posted by SkiprJohn

Have you used PB Blaster or some other penetrating oil on that part? It needs to be worked a lot.

Hi John, Yes I have. Been blasting it for a couple of days with pc blaster. Helped a little, but still sticks badly as you turn the handle about twenty degrees to the right, then sticks again about twenty degrees to the left.

Hope this helps.

[capttman]

Wash with kerosene to rid all old grease regrease and maybe it will turn

[SkiprJohn]

If you have some old diesel fuel that'll do as well as kerosene which might be expensive.

[Canibul]

Maybe a little bit of heat with a small propane torch at the binding spot? Once it's moving then squirt PB into it.

Are the mating parts aluminum? I've had good luck with an aluminum cleaner/lubricant that I bought last time in the US. Don't have it here, it's on the boat but I'll be back down there tomorrow.

[johnmcntsh]

After attempting everything suggested, (thanks folks! you are the best!) I brought it to a local guy who fixes motors for his friends here in Southeast NC. He said the on bottom of the steering tube was binding. He drilled two holes in the top and bottom of the outside casing and blasted them with kerosene, PB and grease and it now works like a charm. Cost 75.00. He thought if I had kept up with your suggestions it would have eventually worked but it might have taken awhile.